Program Overview
To mark the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation is sending a strong transatlantic signal and launching a new special call “Independence 250” to award additional fellowships for Incoming students from the USA.
This initiative promotes young talent, strengthens international networks, and deepens long-term cooperation between Austrian and American institutions.
“Independence 250” offers space for new ideas, joint projects, and sustainable partnerships – a conscious commitment to transatlantic cooperation.
Upcoming Call:
Application: May 1, 2026 to September 30, 2026
Earliest start of study at the host university: January 4, 2027
Who can apply?
Students who are:
studying a technical, natural or economic field
have an outstanding record of achievement in their field of study
Please note that the international offices of the Austrian partner universities may have additional requierements.
How does the application process work?
Applicants must first establish contact with a faculty member at the desired Austrian partner university to secure academic supervision and support for their research paper, alongside supervision at their home university.
It is recommended to seek assistance from faculty members or international offices of your home university, as they may be able to use already established connections with Austrian universities. Alternatively, you may contact the relevant institute or department at the Austrian host university directly.
Most universities provide information on eligible fields of study and degree levels on their websites. The Independence 250 Scholarship follows the same eligibility conditions as the Marshall Plan Scholarship.
For additional information, applicants may also consult the international offices of the Austrian partner universities.
Once supervision by a faculty member at both the host and home university has been secured, the complete application documents must be submitted to the International Office of the Austrian university.
The host universities then submit the applications to the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation within the specified deadlines. All proposals are subsequently evaluated by experts based on a set of predetermined criteria.
What does the scholarship provide?
The Marshall Plan Foundation contributes funds based on the duration of the research stay in two installments.
Additional funds can be granted based on the level of degree:
Stays of 3 months (90 days): €4,000
Stays of 4 months (120 days): €5,000
Stays of 5 months (150 days): €6,000
Stays of 6.5 months (195 days) or longer: Bonus of €1,500
Students in master programs: Bonus of €1,500
Students in Ph.D. programs: Bonus of €2,500
Only the research stay is valid, not the travel period.
Which application documents are requiered?
Applicants will need to provide:
Letter of motivation (2 pages max.)
Research project description (1,500 words minimum, 2,500 words maximum) consiting of:
Title of research project (research fields/topics are chosen freely by the applicants)
Supervisor at home university, supervisor at host university
Short description of research agenda
General goals
Detailed description of research problem
Methodological considerations
Workflow
Relevance and expected results
Curriculum Vitae (in tabular format)
Letters of recommendation (optional)
List of publications (optional)
List of lectures (optional)
All application documents must be sent to the international offices of your host university.
Please consult them for internal deadlines and further information.
Aliosha Bielenberg is a PhD candidate at the University of California, Berkeley, and a 2025 fellow of the Austrian Marshall Plan Foundation, whom we had the pleasure of meeting for a short interview.
During his stay at Central European University in Vienna, he is conducting research on “Politics and Society in Cyprus: A Site of Plurality.”
What are the requirements for the research paper?
The final research paper must consist of 7,500 words minimum, excluding title page, table of contents and reference and will be made available to the public via the Foundation's website.
Changes between the proposed paper and the final paper must be reported to the international office of your home university.
Additionally it is requiered to provide a field report (2 pages maximum) consisting of:
General impression of your research stay abroad
Quality of the host institution
Contacts within the host institution, inclusion in the organization
Recommendations for future Marshall Plan students and fellows
Additional Information
Any modification of contracually agreed points (e.g. changes of dates, duration of your stay or perhaps changes of topics) shall be reported to the international office of your host university immediately (cc to: office@marshallplan.at) for decision-making with the Foundation.
The final installment or any bonus can be withheld under these circumstances:
Shortening of the agreed duration of your stay (tolerance: - 3 days)
Reduced coverage of the agreed written documentation, especially with regard to an optional bonus.
A minimum stay of 90 days is mandatory. Only the research stay is valid, not the travel period.
An extended stay does not lead to any increase in payment.
Applications for confidentiality declarations must also be submitted directly to the international office (maximum period: 2 years).
We wish you a successful completion of your research project.
Contacts
Any more questions?
We are happy to help:
Contact us at office@marshallplan.at or visit our LinkedIn
Or reach out to the International Offices of our Austrian Partner Universities directly.